Direct Estimation of Competition

Abstract

A regression method for estimating competition coefficients was presented. Monte Carlo simulation results indicated that the model was robust and the central assumption of equilibrial populations could be violated within reason. Actual application to natural populations requires inclusion of habitat components as additional independent variables to account for habitat selection effects. Possible means of verifying the estimated coefficients were outlined. The regression approach requires fewer assumptions than commonly used methods based on resource overlap and should prove useful in studies of community structure and organization.